After all that tossing and turning, Samael lay awake with vacant eyes, unable to fall asleep. In the end, he could only grudgingly throw on some clothes, get up, and head to the bar counter to mix himself a fine drink to help him sleep.
However, the moment he entered the hall, a soft creak came from the doorway. A graceful figure was stepping over the threshold, half her body lingering in the darkness indoors, the other half bathed in the cold moonlight.
Samael froze for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.
"What? Are you leaving already? Were you unhappy here?"
"No. Working at the bar lets me forget the past, forget my mission. I can eat when I want, sleep when I want. When I'm bored, I can watch shows, read books, make desserts, travel... I can spend every day happily, then look forward to a new day and a new beginning. I've never experienced anything like this before..."
Under the moonlight, Arcueid turned slightly. A bright, sincere smile bloomed on her exquisite face, while an unusual radiance flickered in her crimson eyes, even breaking through the seal of a thousand years of silence.
"I really like it here, and I really like everyone!"
Samael scratched his head and looked out at the thick night beyond the window.
"Because of Altrouge? Don't worry. The Council has already sent a Saint, and they're coordinating the matter. It'll be resolved soon."
The smile faded from Arcueid's face. Her cherry lips pressed tight as she looked at the man by the counter with a complicated expression, then slowly spoke.
"No, it's something else..."
Samael walked over to the bar on his own, taking out the ingredients to make a drink, seemingly unconcerned.
"Let me guess. Is it because of... your bloodlust?"